History's Anteroom is a collection of vintage photographs made in San Francisco during the years 1906-1909--from the morning of April 18th, when the earthquake began its devastating progress through the San Francisco Bay Area, until the Portola Festival of October 1909, a celebration of regional survival and rebirth. The images, along with vivid descriptions and historical context provided by Birt and Nathan, bring these years to life and allow us to view this moment in San Francisco's history as never before.